Manager’s Message – June 2025

Honoring a Legacy of Service

Mike Thompson Retires After 47 Years With the Cooperative

After more than 4 decades of dedicated service, Northern Lights Line Superintendent Mike Thompson retires this month, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of hard work, leadership, and commitment to keeping the lights on for our members.

Mike began his career with the cooperative as a groundman in 1978. From the very beginning, his work ethic and determination stood out. Over the years, Mike advanced through the ranks, becoming a journeyman lineman and earning the respect of his peers and supervisors alike. He spent 25 years in the field as a lineworker, where he became known for his calm demeanor under pressure and unwavering dedication to safety and reliability.

In 2006, Mike was promoted to line superintendent, a role he has served with distinction for the past several decades. In this leadership position, he not only oversaw daily operations and responded to storms and outages but also mentored the next generation of lineworkers.

Throughout his 47-year career, Mike has weathered countless storms. Whether climbing poles in freezing temperatures or coordinating crews during major outages, he’s always led by example, with humility and a deep sense of responsibility to the community he served. While he’s stepping away from the job, his influence remains in every line he helped build and every lineworker he helped train.

Thank you, Mike, for a career marked by integrity, dedication and service. Your legacy will continue to shine as brightly as the lights you helped keep on for so many years.

Sincerely,
Annie Terracciano
General Manager